Bill cutter and yarn holder for knotter



Aug. 23, 1955 Filed Sept. 19, 1952 J. O. THORNDIKE BILL CUTTER AND YARNHOLDER FOR KNOTTER Fry. 1.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 23, 1955 J. o. THORNDIKE 2,716,035

BILL CUTTER AND YARN HOLDER FOR KNOTTER Filed Sept. 19, 1952 2Sheets-Sheet 2 sea? United States Patent Ofilice 2,7llifi Patented Aug.23, 1955 BELL CUTTER M ll) YARN HGLDER FOR KNOTTER James O. Thorndike,Whitman, Mash, assignor to Abington Textile Machinery Works, NorthAhingteu, Mass, a trust of Massachusetts Application September 19, 1952,Serial No. 310,417

5 Claims. ((12. 239-13} This invention relates to an improved billcutter for use in a knotter. A knotter, as the name implies, is a devicedesigned to tie a weavers knot. They are used very widely in connectionwith a large variety of operations in the textile industry, andespecially in the preparation of warp yarn for weaving. character havebeen in use for many years, they have not as yet been successful intieing knots in yarns made or" continuous filaments such as, forexample, nylon and rayon.

Typical knotters of the type in question with which my invention isdesigned to be used are shown in detail in the patents to Higgins etal., No. 2,071,525, and White, No. 2,178,460, but it will be understoodthat the invention may be used in any knotter utilizing a bill, billcutter and bill spring. Since my invention constitutes an improvementonly in those elements known as the bill, bill cutter and bill spring,detailed reference to the knotter structure will not be made except inso far as it is necessary to make known the relationship of theinvention to the general structure of the knotter.

As mentioned above, knotters in use at the present time have not workedwell with continuous filament yarns. This is apparently due to the factthat continuous filament yarns as a general rule have a smooth,relatively slippery outer surface which renders it difiicult to hold theindividual filaments in a firm gri In addition, the amount of twist incontinuous filament yarns is ordinarily not great so the gripping effectbetween the bill and bill cutter after the yarn has been cut by the billcutter and bill spring, is very uncertain. As a result, in the use ofthe prior art devices, the lateral motion of the stripper designed todraw the knot tight at the end of the knotting operation, pulls the cutend of the continuous filament yarn from its position between the billand bill cutter before the knot has been tightened. This results in animperfect knot or no knot at all. As a result, weavers have heretoforebeen compelled to knot continuous filament yarns by hand.

Accordingly, my invention serves the purpose of providing means forgripping the continuous filament yarns in such manner between the billand bill cutter, that no single filament of the yarn can escapetherefrom during the knot tieing operation after the yarn has beensevered by the cutter.

The invention, while holding the cut end of the yarn securely while theknot is being pulled tight still will permit normal release of the yarnwhen the stripper moves far enough from the bill cutter.

The invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds withthe aid of the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a side elevationof one type of knotter now in general use. The handle is broken away inpart.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the bill screw and cutter of the type usedin the knotter shown in Fig. l and as exemplified in the Higgins et al.and White patents previously referred to.

While devices of this Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of theeccentric, cutting and gripping elements on the end of the bill screw.

Fig. 4 is an elevation looking from the right of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 3.

Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are enlarged cross sections all taken approximatelyon the line 9-9 of Fig. 3 with the elements in successive cutting andgripping positions.

Fig. 6 shows the bill cutter just prior to the cutting of the yarn.

Fig. 7 shows the position of the bill cutter just as the cut has beencompleted.

Fig. 8 shows the bill cutter as it moves inwardly between the bill andbill spring.

Fig. 9 shows the bill cutter in its inmost yarn gripping position.

Fig. 10 shows the three cooperating elements, the bill, the bill cutterand bill spring separately in disassembled condition.

in Fig. 1 there is shown at 2 a side elevation of a knotter of the typewith which the present invention may be used. I

In Fig. 2 is shown the bill screw and related parts all of which aresupported in the knotter frame for rotation and actuation as theoperator actuates the handle.

The bill screw 4 has a shaft portion at the left hand 6 supported by abearing 8 carried by the knotter frame. The bill screw is threaded at 10and is supported at the right end by bearing 12. Extending to the rightof the bill screw and integral therewith is the bill 14 and theassociated bill cutter and bill spring all of which are shown in greaterdetail in the subsequent figures.

An eccentric 16 is shown connected to the member 12, which eccentric isstationary and causes actuation of the bill cutter as the bill screw isrotated.

Referring now to enlarged views in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 it will be seen thatthe bill screw 4 has an extension as at 18 terminating in the upturnedbill 14. On the inside of the bill is a pivot 20 on which is positionedfor oscillating rotation, the bill cutter 22. The movement of the billcutter is controlled by its engagement with the eccentric 16 as the billscrew is revolved.

Bill cutter 22 is held in position on pivot 20 by the bill spring 24-.The bill spring as shown in Figs. 5 and 10 has a small hole 26 whichfits on pivot 20 and is arched as at 28, see Figs. 4 and 5, so as toprovide constant pressure against the bill cutter. The inner end of thebill spring is forked as at 30 so that when positioned in the slot 32 inthe end of the bill screw, the fork will straddle a pin 34. By springingthe bill spring oft pin 20 and sliding it from slot 32 and pin 34, thebill cutter 22 may easily be removed for replacement or repair.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 9 all of which are still further enlargedsections taken substantially on the line 99 of Fig. 3, it will be seenthat the bill spring 24 is beveled at its outer edge 36 so as to providea sharp cutting edge 38. Similarly, the bill cutter 22 is beveled as at4%) to provide a sharp cutting edge 42. The bill 14 has a smooth innersurface 44 against which the face 46 of the bill cutter slides as thebill cutter is moved between the bill and bill spring. In the Figs. 6 to9 the yarn is indicated at 48 with the severed end in Fig. 7 beingnumbered 56 and the end that is attached to the knot being numbered 52in Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

The inventive feature of the cutting and holding elements will now bedescribed. in prior art constructions, the upstanding cutting element 54of the bill cutter 22 as shown in Fig. 10 has been of homogeneousmaterial, usually steel and capable of holding a cutting edge 42 whichcooperates with edge 33 of the bill spring. During operation side 46presses against side 44 of bill 14. As has been explained heretofore theslippery character of the filaments of continuous filament yarns hasmade it to the surface of the cutaway section.

impossible for the normally smooth surfaces 44 and 46 to holdtheindividual filaments securely. Therefore, I have cut away part ofthe'leading edge and side of the bill cutter as at 56 producing therebya shallow,'rectangu- .lar, rabbetedarea in which I have positioned aninsert 58. This insert is made of material that is preferably somewhatflexible and having frictional characteristics capable of gripping thefilaments of a continuous filament yarn with a suflicient bite to holdthose filaments between the surfaces 46 and 44 as the bill cutter entersbetween the bill spring and bill. The material 53 must not onlybecapable of holding the cut filaments, but also must slide readily overthe surface 44 without creeping or rolling up on itself. An insert madeof rubber has been found satisfactory, but it will be understood that Ido not limit the invention to rubber specifically. Other substanceshaving the aforementioned characteristics may be used in place thereof.The insert 58 is held in place by cementing it Other securing proceduresmay be used if preferred. The dimensions of the inserted material aresubstantially those of the cutaway area so that the overall dimension ofthe bill cutter is not appreciably altered. I

' In the use of the invention, the following procedure occurs. Upondownward movement of the handle 60 of the knotter, see Fig. 1, the billscrew 4 will be caused bill screw to pivot on pin 20 to, move the billcutter.

toward and away from the bill and bill spring. When in open position thebill cutter and bill spring are in the nature of a pair of smallopenscissors. While the bill and bill cutter and bill spring are in opencondition and rotating, one end of the yarn to be knotted comes intoposition between these elements as shown in Fig. 6.

Thereafter as rotation of the bill screw continues, the cam action ofthe eccentric 16 on portion 62 causesthe bill cutter to approach thebill and bill spring as shown in Fig.6 with the yarn therebetween.

As the cutting edge 42 of the bill cutter approaches cutting edge 38 0fthe bill spring, the yarn will be severed as indicated in Fig. 7. By thetime severence is complete, however, the leading edge of insert 58 willhave trapped the cut end of the yarn 64 as indicated in Fig. 7 againstthe inside face 44 of bill 14. At this stage of the operation, there'isnot much tension on the yarn end 52 that would tend. to pull it from itsposition between V the bill and billcuttery As the bill cutter continuesits advance as shown Fig. 8, insert 58 thencomes into full play.The-filaments of the yarn 52 are engaged by the surface 66 of the insertand, due to the frictional characteris tics of the insert, are draggedthereby along the inner surface 44 of the bill 14. All the while thebill spring 24 is applying pressure against the outer face 68 of thebill cutterand the pressure exerted. thereby is sufficient for theinsert 58 to get the necessary grip on all of the individual filamentsof the yarn 52. 7 As rotation of the bill screw 4 continues, the billcutter 22 will finally reach the position shown in Fig. 9, at which timethe yarn 52 will have had its end dragged the maximum amount between thebill cutter and the bill. With the yarn and bill cutter in thisposition, the stripper of the knotter is then actuated which bringstension to I bear on the twoends of yarn that are being knotted thusdrawing the knot tight. Further movement of the stripper drags the end52 from its previously secured position between the bill cutter and thebill;

While the insert 58 has made it possible for a knotter of the typedescribed to tie knots .in continuous filament yains it will heunderstood that knotter so equipped will work in the usual manner withother types of yarns, such as cotton or wool as well as with thediscontinuous types of artificial filaments, such as spun rayon,acetate, nylon,

etc. 7

it will be further understood that the invention is concerned solelywith the bill, bill cutter. and the bill spring as heretofore explained,and does not in any way concern the structure of the knotter mechanismthat causes the rotation of the bill screw and the movement of thecutter elements. While a conventionaliknotter has i been shown in Fig.1, there are other styles of knotters which utilize cutting elements thesame'as those disclosed herein, and with which an insert made accordingto my invention maybe used to the same advantage.

It is my intention to cover all changes and modifications of the exampleof the invention herein chosen for purposes ofthe disclosure which donot constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1 claim 1. For use in a knotter of the type described, a bill screwhaving associated therewith a bill, a bill cutter and a bill spring forpressing said bill cutter against said bili, said bill cutter having aninsert on the face/that abuts theinner face of the bill of non-metallicmaterial having frictional characteristics "capable of holding 'the'severed ends of filaments of continuous filament yarn:

between said insert and bill during the knotting procedure; 2. Thedevice set forth'in claim 1 in which said insert is of rubber. V

a 3. The device set forth in claim 1 and in which said insert with slidewith respect to the inner surface of said bill without creeping orrolling under the pressure applied thereto by said bill spring.

4-. A device for use in a knotter comprising a bill having a smoothinner surface, a bill cutter pivoted with respect to said bill,a billspring fixed with respectto said bill and applying pressure against oneside of said bill cutter to urge the latter against the inner face ofsaid bill, cooperating cutting edges on said bill cutter and said billspring, an insert along the leading edge of said bill cutter forcooperation with the inner surface of said bill, I '7 said insert beingmade of material having frictionalcharacteristics capable of holding thefilaments of a continuous filamentryarn'between said bill cutter andbill under the pressure applied by said bill spring against removal pinginsert on the other side, said insert being made of".

flexible non-metallic material having frictional character istics'withrespect to the gripping of continuous filament '1' yarns greater thanthat of steel.

References [Iited in the file of this patent UNETED STATES PATENTS V1,183,044 Shampay May 16, 1916 1,291,806 Edrnands Jan. 21, 19192,131,346 Fairchild Sept. 27, 1938 2,178,460

White Oct. 31, 1939

